Traction device



March 26, 1946. w, LAWRENCE 2,397,277

TRACTI-ON DEVICE Filed July 30, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Wafer B liawrezzce March 26, 1946. w. B. LAWRENCE 2,397,277

TRACTION DEVICE Filed July 30, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor /7 WaZZerB Lawrenca f a v March 26, 1946. w. B. LAWRENCE 2,397,277

TRACTION DEVICE Filed July 30, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Walier B. Lawrezw'e Attorney;

- Patented Mar. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACTION DEVICE Walter B. Lawrence, St. John's, Newfoundland Application July so, 1943, Serial No. 496,799

the substantially bowl-shaped-disk I is provided 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in traction devices and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to be expeditiously mounted for use on the wheels of motor vehicles, farm tractors, etc.

Another very important object of the invention I is to provide a traction device of the aforementioned character which is adapted to rotate or "creep relative to the wheel on which it is mounted wheninuse.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a traction device of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly. eihcient and reliable in with a flat ring! having an annular flange l thereon which abuts the wheel I.

use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing a traction device constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted on a wheel.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 but with the retaining plate or disk removed.

V Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the wheel on which the traction device is mounted.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation, showing the carrier mounted on the wheel, the central portion only of said wheel being shown.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the rotary member and the radiating rods or bolts which are slidable thereon.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in side eleva the bolts 2. A tubular hub 8 projects from the central portion of the disk I. On its periphery,

A drum I I is rotatably and removably mounted on the carrier 6. The drum II includes a disk I2 which is journaled on the hub 8. Formed integrally with the peripheral portion of the disk I2 is aqing I3. Radial tubular guides I4 are formed integrally with the ring I 3.

Rods or bolts I5 are slidable in the guides I4. Traction members I8 are slidably and adjustably mounted on the bolts. IS. The traction members I G comprise hooks II which are engageable transversely on the pneumatic tire 5, said hooks including cleats or lugs 18. The shanks I9 of the hooks I1 terminate in out-turned end'portions 20 which are slidable on the bolts I5. Adjusting and retaining nuts 2| for the hooks Il are threaded on the outer end portions of the bolts I5. Coil springs 22 encircle the bolts I5 for yieldingly urging the hooks I'l outwardly or away from the tire 5.

Removably mounted on the hub 8 is a retaining disk or plate 23 for the drum II. The hub 8 is internally threaded to receive a screw 24 which secures the disk 23 in position. It will thus be seen that the drum II is rotatable between the disks I and 23.

It is thought that the operation of the devicethe load against the tension of the coil springs 22. As the wheel is driven over the ground, the

members I6 rotate or creep around the tire 5.

This tendency to creep is increased as the speed of rotation of the wheel increases. Adjustment of the members I6 relative to the tire 5 may be readily had through the medium of the nuts 2i. The disk I2 has formed therein a plurality of openings 25 (see Fig. 6) whereby access may be conveniently had to the bolts 2 when desired, after the disk 23 has been removed.

In the slight modification illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings, coil springs 26 are mounted on the bolts I5 on the inside of the ring I3. This arrangement of the coil springs 26 pulls the traction members Ii inwardly on the tire 5. In other respects this form of the invention is substantially similar in construction and operation to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings.

It is believed that the many advantages of a traction device constructed in accordance with 2 sperm-2r changes in the details ot--cohstructibn may be resorted to whichwill fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: i 1. A traction device for wheels having a tire taining disk engaged with the drum, a securing boltfor said retaining disk threadedly mounted in the tubular hub, said drum being rotatable between said retaining disk and the ring, slidable 5 bolts mounted radially on the drum, traction members slidably mounted on the bolts and ineluding hooks engageable transversely with the tire, and coil springs encircling the bolts for yieldingly resisting movement 01' the traction members mounted thereon' comprising, a substantially 10 in one direction, said ring and disc-forming side bowl-shaped disk removably mounted centrally on the wheel, a hub projecting laterally from said .disk, a drum iournaled on the hub, a retaining plate for the-drum removably mounted on the hub, slidable bolts mounted radially on the drum, traction members slidable on the bolts and engageable with the-tire, and coil springs encircling the bolts for yieldingly resisting movement or the traction members in one direction, said bowlshaped discand retaining-plate forming side guides between which the drum is rotatably confined. L

2. A traction device for wheels having a tire I thereon comprising, a carrier including a substantially bowl-shaped disk'ren ovably mounted centrally on the wheel, a ring 'onthe periphery of the disk, a tubular hub projecting laterally from the disk, a drum'joumaled on the hub, a reguides between which said drum is rotatably conflned.

thereon comprising, a substantially'bowl-shaped 1: disk removably mounted on the wheel, a hub pro- 20 rods mounted radially on the ring. traction members slidably mounted on the rods and including hooks engageable with the tire, and coil springs encircling the bolts between the. ring and the traction members for yieidingly urging said traction 25 members outwardly, saidv bowl-shaped disc and retaining disc forming side guides between which said drum is rotatably confined.

WALTER B. LAWRENCE.

3. A traction device for wheels having a tire 

